The Longest game.........ever!

World rugby need to make sure the Refs don't allow that to happen again, I've never known a game take so long considering there were no injuries.

Agree that the game had for too many stoppages to consider and then reconsider too many decisions. Not sure how you could legislate against such a situation in future. Only allow a certain number of replays and then ignore any decisions after the limit is reached?
Doesn't sound plausible, what would you suggest?

Don't let the team full of fat boys get their breath back. Took an age just to have a lineout or scrum. Too many water breaks too.

The Ref lost control of the situation.

Let's just hope a game of rugby breaks out next week.

I usually don’t watch movies shorter than 90 minutes. They don’t have enough material to constitute a quality movie.

A 100 minute rugby match provides enough time for the quality intense stuff, as well as regular bathroom breaks and trips to the snack cupboard without missing anything.

Old Man wrote:I usually don’t watch movies shorter than 90 minutes. They don’t have enough material to constitute a quality movie.

A 100 minute rugby match provides enough time for the quality intense stuff, as well as regular bathroom breaks and trips to the snack cupboard without missing anything.

For the players? Or those watching in the stands or on tv?

Will be interesting to see how the French ref. Monsieur Raynal, gets on this week. He is used to games with loads of scrums and variable pace of play. Many T14 teams play at slower tempo until they see the chance to run and then up their pace, when it suits them. Sounds a lot like the way the Boks play, so probably not going to favour the Lions.
However, he is often quite laissez faire at the breakdown, not sure who that will benefit.
I think he is a really good ref, doesn't get flustered and has a good understanding of the scrum. He also showed a lot of determination to come back from a horrendous double fracture, he was sandwiched between two players, whilst refereeing a T14 match between Montpellier and Racing in 2012 -13 season.

Still stuck with Mr Magoo in the van though

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073124

Good to see Gatland talking about this and putting some pressure on the officials to have a quicker game.

Duty281 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58073124

Good to see Gatland talking about this and putting some pressure on the officials to have a quicker game.

It's surely an area where the Lions can get on top if it's a fast game. Match fitness should be a Trump card.

Except we are now third test in. In the second half of the first test the Boks were blowing out of their you know what after about 50 minutes.
Last week they were still taking the game to the Lions all the way to the end.
Sure, their delaying tactics helped but they will be fitter again for this final installment. With Smith and Van Staden on the bench they have plenty of pace to bring on in the forwards, along with the dynamism of their  bench front row.
The fitness differential will be even smaller when you consider Wyn Jones, Williams, Adams, Beard Simmonds and Aki haven't played for 3 weeks and Russell hasn't played for 5 (?) weeks.
I hope Wyn Jones shoulder is fully fit as I don't fancy Mako trying to play for the last 60.